Those darn Christmas lists...

It's that time of year again when you ask your loved ones "what do you want for Christmas?"

Their response, "Nothing...I have everything I want and need."

And then there are some who give you a list.

I've heard some good stories this year about Christmas wish lists that I wanted to share.  I will disguise names for the sake of embarrassment.  You may know some of them...be one of them or better yet, want to use them.

2011 Christmas Wish List from a father to his sons:

Mom said trip to Hawaii would be nice

If you guys wanted to buy the coffee maker I could chip in. She wants the one that she was looking at in Wal Mart for $149.95 and the carousel for the coffee pouch was 29.95 - she needs both, I know you haven't seen it but I am sure the price will help you find it

She also mentioned a new pajama out there that looks like blue jeans

Or, her perfume - you know what that is I hope

Or, slippers - you better get the right ones or she'll ask you to take them back

I bet you can beat Wal Mart's prices at Best Buy or Costco. Love Dad

2011 Christmas request to a wife from her husband:

Husband (H):  Honey, what would you like for Christmas?

Wife (W):  I don't know, surprise me.

H:  Do you want something like a sweater?

W:  Why not something like lingerie?

H:  What kind?

W:  Please don't make me get online and show you.  Surprise me.

H:  Well, if you get online and show me and I pay for it...it would be a surprise.

2011 Christmas hint from a boyfriend to a girlfriend:

Boyfriend:  What do you want for Christmas this year?

Girlfriend:  I don't need anything.  What do you want for Christmas?

Boyfriend:  A new golf club.

Girlfriend:  What kind?

Boyfriend:  Wait a minute...scratch that, I'll get that myself however I can provide you with a list of other ideas.

Girlfriend:  That won't be needed, the elves will figure it out.

2011 Funny Christmas list from mother to her children:
1 Magenta colored crayon
4 marbles that are yellow inside
box of toothpicks
fuzzy bunny slippers
a Hot Wheels version of the Oscar Mayer wiener mobile

just add water instant underpants
a pad of post-it notes
a green highlighter
a 40 watt light bulb
wheat penny
peacock feather
Burger King crown
 

2012 Christmas Gift of the Month list to get you ready for next year:

January:  Join a case of beer of the month club 

February: Sign up for a wine of the month club

March:  Go online and click on Hawaiian flower of the month (deliver anywhere)

April:  Give a gourmet chocolate of the month club

May: A spa service once a month gift

June: Register for a quarterly sporting event or concert (football, basketball, Def Leppard)

July:  A get away of the month (cabins, beaches, B&Bs, camping)
August: The gift of a hobby (beginning classes in quilting, card making, photography)

September:  Order a book of the month

October: Deliver a cookie of the month

November: Sign up for an International newspaper or magazine delivery

December:  Decide never to do Christmas "wish" lists again

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone.  Remember the reason for the season.  Peace to you and yours.

Barb, the tool girl, Richey

I got the house.  He got the tools.

While I was at my aunt and uncle's house over the Thanksgiving holiday, the dinner conversation was random.  It included the occasional political jabs, why don't you eat turkey talk and my story about locating the best ladder for my light bulb changing duties.  My uncle asked, "why don't you have a ladder?"  At which I point I said, "I am waiting for it to go on sale at Costco."  -- right, like things go on sale at Costco.  

It then became a "he said, she said" exchange:

He said, "Well, what kind of tools do you have?

I said, "Right now, I am in the market for them."

He said, "you don't have tools?"

I said, "I have a $19.95 set with pink handles that I purchased at the grocery store."

He said, "Are you scared of tools?"

I said, "Ahhh.  No."

He said, "Do you know how to use tools?"

I said, without being disrespectful, "Really unc, yes, I know how to use them.  Mark took them when we divorced."  Hence, my statement...I got the house.  He got the tools.

To know my uncle (my mom's brother) a bit, consider this: 

Unc is a 75 year old man with a passion for collecting vintage toy trucks (he actually has a company; Semi Trucks).  He doesn't believe in the Internet so he travels across the country with a trailer and sets up shop at small flea markets, toy shows and any random casino parking lot between here and Dubuque. My aunt enjoys the penny slots so she travels with him when she's not working part time at Shopko - I think that's how they support their travels or it may be a place for her to escape for a few hours.  They've been married thirty plus years. 

My uncle was a chip buyer for the local paper mill.  He retired fifteen years ago and has since taken up puttering.   He's made clocks.  He's constructed bathrooms.  He's built fences. He's taken on photography.  And,  boy does he have tools.  My grandpa's tools.  And, a few of his own.

I spent this morning with my uncle.  He put together a tool "box" for me.  It's my grandpa's tool box from long ago.  It's my starter set.  I am quite excited to watch it grow.  I hope to have a garage like my unc's one day (pictured above). In fact, he asked me if I wanted an air compressor.  Ha.  "No, thanks, not right now, let me think about that and get back to you."

 

Take Five - What is your life about

Please take five minutes and watch (and listen) to this video.  Thank you for sharing, Kelly.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MaYh-KN94Ko

Confessions

I've had wind storms for the past 7 days at my house.  I fear wind storms.  I realize that Mother Nature brings all of her glory with her when she arrives in the winter to the Pacific Northwest but wind storms?  I live on a bluff - not covered by much so I'm pretty sure I get the storms from Alaska (in eastern Washington).  In fact, when the wind hit 40 mph the other night, I felt like Dorothy and hello, I'm not in Kansas (and never have been). I will confess, I have the red heels.

Actually, this post isn't about my fears.  It is about my secret confession to be a beauty salon owner and stylist.  

It might have started when I was five years old.  I would comb my mom's hair.  I would comb my grandpa's hair and I would comb my own hair.  For hours.

A year before my grandma passed away, I would go to the care center once a week and either style or trim her hair.  I know I loved it more than she did. 

And don't kid yourself, women, you know who you are...you pick up a pair of tweezers or grooming shears and love to cut back those ear hairs and those nose hairs on your favorite partner.  Or, better yet, a straight edge disposable razor and remove the long stragglers on the neck line.

About ten years ago, my husband at the time (poor Mark, I'm sure that's one more reason why we aren't married now) had a mullet going on.  It was going to be weeks before he could get a haircut.  I said, "I can do it, we have a #2."  He was such an agreeable man. 

He sat down on the chair and I turned on the razor.  "Now, Barb, all you have to do is go from front to back."  

"OK," with excitement in my eyes.

It seemed to be going quite well until I realized I had turned the razor upside down.  Yikes.  I think he could see the fear in my eyes when I attempted to comb over the existing hair with the bald spot that I had just created.  "Um, you may have to take over."

He got up from the chair and looked in the mirror.  He agreed.  A comb over wasn't going to do the trick.  

Mark was bald that summer.   PS, We are still great friends despite the comb over (I mean, the break up).  

My mom and I have a special relationship.  Since I am a limited edition (and she is thankful every day she only had one of me), my mom and I spend quite a bit of time together.  On Thanksgiving, I noticed that she looked a bit tired (and whenever someone says you look tired...it's not a good thing) and her hair hadn't been primped in awhile (the entire family goes to the same hairdresser, Steve).  Another confession, I have cut my own hair in the past and I've seen other hairdressers - and don't kid yourself...you have too.

I texted my mom Friday (I love that my mom texts) and told her I had a surprise for her and I would meet her at my house after work.  

When she arrived later that day, I had a box of hair color laying on the table (an auburn/medium brown), makeup and calming lotion (yes, they make it).  

My mom is shy.  She gazed at the table full of beauty products. "What are we doing tonight?"  I said, "I think you need a pick me up."  

And she said in her polite manner, "I think you may need a pick me up."

She was right and I confess,  I did.  I put on my apron and went to town...on her hair. 

 

BEFORE

AFTER

Commence. A week of Thanksgiving around the world

Thanksgiving in North America had originated from a mix of European and Native traditions. Typically in Europe, festivals were held before and after the harvest cycles to give thanks for a good harvest and to rejoice together after much hard work with the rest of the community. 

At the time, Native Americans had also celebrated the end of a harvest season. When Europeans first arrived to the Americas, they brought with them their own harvest festival traditions from Europe, celebrating their safe voyage, peace and good harvest.

The origin of the first Thanksgiving in Canada goes back to the explorer, Martin Frobisher, who had been trying to find a northern passage to the Pacific Ocean. Frobisher's Thanksgiving celebration was not for harvest, but in thanks for surviving the long journey from England through the perils of storms and icebergs. 

Most days, I wake up and ask myself, "what am I thankful for today?" There are about seven items that come to mind:

1. My health

2. My family and friends

3. My job

4. My faith

5. Frankie and Cooper

6. My home (when I don't have to shovel snow)

7. Peace (at least in my little neck of the world)

At this time of year there are seven other items I am thankful for:

1. I don't eat turkey

2. I'm not a turkey

3. I am not a sitting member of the Super Committee

4  My aunt called and said she is making turkey and I am invited to her house

5. I have the day off

6. I am working on Black Friday

And number 7.  I don't eat tofurkey nor have I ever eaten tofurkey.

Please take time and express your gratitude this week and let the Thanksgiving festivities commence. 

Buying a car...Barb style

Did I need a new car?

No.

Did I want to help stimulate our economy?

That is the answer I am sticking with.

I set out to test drive a few cars.  Normally, I would find one that I adore and sign the papers but this time I was going to be adult about it and take a few for a test drive.

Luckily, I know a few fine folks at Foothills Lincoln Mazda in Spokane and they let me take a few cars for a few days and I was able to really test drive them.

First one, a Lincoln MKX.  Very pretty.  A 2008 black beauty. 

Second one, a Mazda CX9.  Very sporty.  A 2011 black beauty.  (Do you see a pattern)

I love SUVs but when I asked my dear friends about these two cars I received several comments:  You realize Lincolns are for old people?  The piping on the inside looks like a race car.  This is big...are you sure you can parallel park it.  Why do you need seven seats? And finally, one of the best, why get a new car anyway...your car is only two years old?

So, the real question...why do I need a new car? 

People take lots of pride in driving up in their brand new vehicle, but all too often people purchase cars that they can’t afford.  They do it more for image, status, and pure ego.  In the long run what they end up doing is robbing themselves of savings.  The first thing a person needs to ask is: Why Do I Think I Need A New Car?

• My car is too old
• My car is too ugly
• My car is about to break down
• The repairs are costing too much
• I need dependability
• I’ve had this car too long
• I don’t want it to depreciate much more

And the list goes on.  I've heard a lot of silly reasons as well, but it is usually because the person is saying anything they can to get into a new car.  Bottom line, I had 60,000 miles on my car.  I didn't need a new car at all.  I wanted one.

So, my third test drive.  A 2011 Silver Metallic Mazda CX7.  A bit smaller, bug deflector (very important), a Yakima rack (for what I am not sure) and a hitch for my bike rack (the most important thing).  Actually, that is coming...the rack needs to be put on.  See...it wasn't a perfect car.  However, it has a camera for my rear driving that I do (I try to stay away from that), blue tooth (which actually echoes and sounds like I am in a gas chamber and bun warmers.  

Done.  Purchased.  Who says "third time isn't a charm?"

I am a new owner of a new car.  I love America. Oh, that's right Ford sold Mazda. Or, did they?

Amidst the world financial crisis in the fall of 2008, reports emerged that Ford was contemplating a sale of its stake in Mazda as a way of streamlining its asset base. BusinessWeek explained the alliance between Ford and Mazda has been a very successful one, with Mazda saving perhaps $90 million a year in development costs and Ford "several times" that, and that a sale of its stake in Mazda would be a desperate measure. On November 18, 2008, Ford announced that it would be selling a 20% stake in Mazda, bringing its stake to 13.4%, and surrendering control of the company. The following day, Mazda announced that, as part of the deal, it was buying back 6.8% of its shares from Ford. It was also reported that Hisakazu Imaki would be stepping down as chief executive, to be replaced by Takashi Yamanouchi. On November 18, 2010, Ford reduced their stake further to just 3%, citing the reduction of ownership would allow greater flexibility to pursue growth in emerging markets. Ford and Mazda remain strategic partners through joint ventures and exchanges of technological information. Nice work guys.

Music Lessons

I love to sing.  I sing in the shower.  I sing in the car.  I sing at the gym. I sing in the grocery store.  I tend to make up lyrics and often times words and my beat and rhythm are spot on...in my mind. 

Actually, my mom asks me quite a bit if I flunked choir in high school.  I started singing in elementary school - I believe it was mandatory.  You know, the recitals and the plays?  Remember, the Christmas pageants and spring concerts?

I participated in all of them from elementary school to junior high and on into high school, I learned tons of songs.  The one's I remember the most were, "Frosty the Snowman" and "Edelweiss." Yes, I learned a pleothra of music however I didn't quite have the pipes for the Spokane Children's Choir (actually had to bow out and become a board member) nor did I try or get accepted to Juilliard School of Dance, Drama and Music however I do love to sing.  (By the way, I always wanted to be a soprano...but I am not...I am a proud alto). 

My father played the piano.  He was good.  My mom played the piano.  She was good.  

I took lessons.  I wasn't too good.  In fact, my piano teacher said I should try a new instrument. 

So, I picked up a piccolo. It was a bit embarrassing at the time. (PS, I still have it).  

Now that I am older, I find that it shouldn't of been embarrassing at all.  Heck, the piccolo (Italian for small) is a half-size flute, and a member of the woodwind family of musical instruments. The piccolo has the same fingerings as its larger sibling, the standard transverse flute, but the sound it produces is an octave higher than written. This gave rise to the name "ottavino," the name by which the instrument is referred to in the scores of Italian composers. John Philip Sousa wrote the famous solo in the final repeat of the closing section (trio) of his march "The Stars and Stripes Forever."

For those of you who know me, I have quite a bit of air.  In junior high, I picked up the trumpet and decided to give it a whirl.  It wasn't the saxophone...which is the "coolest" of the horns but it appeared to be lighter for me to carry/hold.  I played in the city band.  Yes, everyone, the city band.  

I was proud to play the trumpet (I don't have it anymore).  The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. 

So, why do I tell you about my music lessons?  I think everyone should try one or two.  Why?  

Music brings people together.  It allows us to experience emotions.  And, above all music gives us soul.  

Music leads to singing, dancing and eating.  

It brings spirit to the world.